Case for plats, maps, &amp; c.



- Patented Jan. l4, i902.

I c. E. McCLlNTOCK. CASE-FUR FLATS, MAPS, 8L0.

(Application filed Apr. 5. 1901.1 I

2 Sheets-Sheet L (No Model.)

N0. 69|,288. Patented Ian. 14, I902.

C. E. MGCLINTDCK.

CASE FOR FLATS, MAPS, 81.0.

Application filed Apr. 5. 1901.]

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(LEM?) l y foufl 1 a I 1 v I r I UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. MOCLINTOCK, OF ALBUQUERQUE, TERRITORY OF NEW 'MExIoor CASEIIFOR PLATS, MAPS, C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 691,288, dated January 14, 1902. Application filed April 5, 1901. Serial No. 54,523- (No modeLl To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OH'ARLEs E. MoOLIN- TOOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albuquerque, in the county of Bernalillo and Territory of New Mexico, have invented a new and useful Case for Plats, Maps, &c., of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a case for plats, maps, and the like.

The object of the present invention is to provide for plats, maps, drawings, and the like a simple and comparatively inexpensive case adapted to afford a convenient repository for the same and capable of enabling ready access to be had to such maps, plats, or other contents and of serving as a support or desk to permit the same to be conveniently examined when removed.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple, inexpensive, and efficient means for enabling the case to be readily turned from a horizontal to a vertical position, and vice versa, and for locking it in either of the said positions.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a case constructed in accordance with this invention, the case being arranged in an upright position. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, the case being in a horizontal position. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating the manner of pivotally mounting the casing. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the bearings, the parts being separated. Fig. 5 is a detail plan View. of one end of the case, illustrating the construction of the ways for the reception of the plats, maps, or other contents. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the guide-rail. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the lower suppOrting pIate for holding the lower portion of the guide-rail. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion. of one of the boards for supporting the maps or plats. Fig. 9 is an enlargedlongitudinal sectional view of the catch,the slide, and a portion of the guide-rail.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a narrow rectangular receptacle or case pivotally mounted at its ends between uprights 2 of a stand 3 and adapted to be arrangedin an upright position, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, and to be partially rotated to arrange it ina horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, to form a table or desk for supporting a map or plat while the same is being examined. The stand, which is mountedon casters or rollers to enable the case to be readily moved from one point to another, is provided with a suitable base, preferably consisting of legs 4, extending laterally from the lower ends of the uprights, which are connected by a horizontal bottom bar 5, extending longitudinally beneath the case or receptacle 1. The uprights are provided near their upper ends with pivots or trunnions 6, extending inward from plates 7, through suitable perforations of the uprights, and projecting into sockets or bearings 8. The plates 7 are secured to the outer faces of the uprights, as clearly 7 shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the sockets which receive the inner ends of the trunnions or journals 6 consist of sleeves or cups provided with integral plates or flanges 9, which are secured to the outer faces of the ends of the case or receptacle. The bearings, which are simple and strong, may, if desired, be provided with antifriction-balls or any other suitable antifriction devices.

The case or receptacle is supported in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of a brace 10, consisting of a straight bar hinged at its lower end 11 to the bottom of the stand and slidingly connected at its up-- per end with a guide-rail 12 and adaptedto be locked to the same at the inner and outer ends thereof, whereby the case or receptacle is securely held in either position. The lower end 11 of the brace is provided with an eye for the reception of a pivot 12, which is mounted on a bracket 13, consisting of a plate secured to the bottom of the stand and provided with a pair of outwardly-projecting ears spaced apart and receiving the lower end of I00 the brace. The bracket 13 is preferably mounted on a block 14, which is centrally secured to the bar 5. The guide-rail 12, which is approximately T-shaped in cross section, is provided at its upper end with a head or plate 15, which is perforated for the reception of screws or other suitable fastening devices for securing the upper end of the guide-rail to the case or receptacle. The guide-rail forms a pair of laterally-extending flanges and a central longitudinal rib or web, and its lower end is supported by a plate or casing 16, pro.- vided with an opening l7 and having flanges 18, perforated for the reception of screws or other suitable fastening devices. The plate or casing 16 is provided with a T-shaped opening to conform to the configuration of; the guide-rail, and it is capable of adjustmentlongitudinally thereof to arrange it the desired distance from the upper end of the guiderail to provide the necessary space for a slide 19. The slide 19, which is provided with a.

T-shaped opening 20 for the reception of the guide-rail, has side flanges 21, between which is pivoted the upper end 22 of the brace, and when the case or receptacle is partially rotated to arrange it in a vertical or horizontal position the slide is moved longitudinally of the guide-rail. The slide is provided with a suitable catch 23, which is adapted to engage inner and outer recesses 24: and 25 of the The inner or lower recess is engaged by the catch of the slide when the-ease guide-rail.

is in an upright position, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, and when the, case is in a horizontal position, asshown in Fig. 2, the catch engages the upper or outer recess. The receptacle or case is firmly held in either position, and when it is arranged horizontally it forms an efficient table or desk.

- The catch 23 is pivoted between its ends by a transverse pin or rivet 30 between the side flanges of the slide, and it is provided at its outer or upper portion with an inwardly-extending lug 31, adapted to engage the innerand outer recesses 2i and 25 of the guide-rail. The lug is held in either of the recesses by means of a coiled spring 32, interposed between the inner end of the catch and the slide. The slide and the catch are provided with seats 33 and 34 to receive. and support the ends of the coiled spring. The outer portion of the catch is provided with an opening 35, forming a finger-hold and adapted to enable the catch to be readily grasped and drawn outward to disengage the lug from either of the recesses of the guide-rail. When the lug is disengaged from either of the recesses,the slide will move freely on the guiderail, and the case is swung upward or downward, and the lug will automatically engage the other recess when it reaches the same.

The case orreceptacle is provided with a suitable lid or cover 24, hinged'at one side of the case or receptacle and adapted to drop down below the same, as illustrated in Fig. 2, when the said case or receptacle is arranged in a horizontal position. The lid or cover is secured in its closed position by suitable looking devices 25, arranged at the ends of the case or receptacle and designed to be of any suitable construction.

The case is provided with suitable ways 26, preferably formed bystrips of metal mounted in suitable kerts of the inner faces of the ends 27 and adapted to separate boards 28,as clearly indicated in Fig. 5. These boards 28, which may be constructed of heavy pasteboard or any other suitable material, are provided at their edges with projecting ribs or beads 29, extending outward beyond the face of the board and adapted to prevent maps, plats, or the like from being rubbed when they are mounted on the, Said boards. The maps may be pasted or otherwise secured to the faces of the boards 28, and they will be protected by the said strips or ribs, which are preferably constructed of sheet-metal, as illustrated in Fig. 8. The binding-strips which form the ribs or beads may be rounded or may be of 1 any other desired configuration, and they ofi set the boards from each other andfrom the ways formed by the metal strips of the ends of the case or receptacle. The boards may be readily introduced into and removed from r the case or receptacle, and the latter is adapted for preserving the records of various governmental departments and may be, advantageously employed in all kinds of enterprisesinvolving the handling and preservation of large sheets-such as drawings, maps,

- plats, and the likea,nd the cases may be made of any desired size and are adapted to be compactly arranged when not in use. The casings may be constructed to form convenient counters, they may be readily opened and closed to aiford access to their contents, and they may be quickly arranged in a horizontal position to provide a table or desk.

What I claim is 1. A device of the class described comprising a stand or support, a case or receptacle pivotally mounted on the stand or support and adapted to be rotated to arrange it in an upright or horizontal position, said case or receptacle being provided with a hinged lid arranged to drop belowit when it is arranged in a horizontal position to form a table or desk, and means for holding the case or receptacle in either position, substantially as described. 2. A device of the class described comprising a stand, a case or receptacle pivotally mounted on the stand and adapted to be arranged in an upright or horizontal position, a brace hinged to the stand and slidingly connected with the case or receptacle, and means for locking the brace against movement to hold the case or receptacle in either position, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising a stand, a case or receptacle pivotally mounted on the stand and provided with, a guide-rail, a brace hinged to the stand and slidingly connected with the guide-rail, and a catch for locking the slide against movement, substantially as described.

4. A device of the class described comprising a stand, a case or receptacle, pivotally mounted on the stand and provided with a guide-rail, a slide aranged to move longitudinally of the guide-rail, a brace hinged to the stand and to the slide, and a catch mounted on the slide and arranged to engage the guiderail to lock the case or receptacle against movement, substantially as described.

5. A device of the class described comprising a stand, a case or receptacle pivotally mounted on the stand, a guide-rail substantially T-shaped in cross-section secured to the case or receptacle, a plate provided with a T- shaped opening receiving the guide-rail and secured to the case or receptacle, a slide having a T-shaped opening receiving the guiderail, a brace pivoted to the stand and to the slide, and a catch mounted on the slide and arranged to engage the guide-rail, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. A device of the class described comprising a stand, a case or receptacle pivotally mounted on the stand and provided with a guide-rail, a slide arranged to move longitunally of the guide-rail, a brace hinged to the stand and to the slide, a catch pivotally mounted between its ends on the slide and provided with a lug arranged to engage the guide-rail, and a spring mounted on the slide and engaging the catch, to hold the lug in engagement with the guid-rails, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. MOCLINTOOK.

Witnesses:

CALVIN WHITING, E. B. CoNovER. 

